Evaporative cooling device



Feb. 23, 1965 o. F. POTlTO 3,170,302

EVAPORATIVE COOLING DEVICE Filed Dec. 23, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 HIS PATENT AGENT HM NH M M 4 0 m N a N" 1, l m m B 5 u H m P W M H F l H E F W H NH E I 9 W F 6 r NH T. L/ 0 7 Nu N a H H a H R H h N I H c H N- H 4 g U2 K G H "m5 R M H EL 5% J wt u /A H N 0 E C H u NMHM v .50.. T In uH MN m HWNU v N H U H Feb. 23, 1965 o'r To 3,170,302

EVAPORATIVEZ COOLING DEVICE Filed Dec. 23 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oren F Pot/f0 INVENTOR 3,170,302 r EVAPORATIVE COOLING DEVICE Oren F. Potito, 4300 22nd St. N., St. Petersburg, Fla. Filed Dec. 23, 1963, Ser. No. 332,582

23 Claims. (Cl. 62-7) This invention relates generally to cooling apparatus and more particularly to an evaporative cooling device in which a'volatile liquid is used as a refrigerant which is changed from liquid to vapor by permitted expansion to thereby effect an absorption of heat with resultant cooling of the adja'cent area or enclosure;

, Devices of this general type are known in the art in connection with various applications. However, insofar as is known, none of these have proved practical or cornmercially feasible due to a number of undesirable characteristics. Among these are: an impractical and complex engineering design resulting in an overly expensive device of inadequate efficiency and cooling capacity for the intended purpose; a lack of susceptibility to commercial packaging rendering them undesirable for marketing to retail outlets; an incapability of simple and economic installation by the average mechanic; and a difiiculty of associating the cooling device with another device or system in which the refrigerant fuel may be consumed without complicating the function or operation of either.

Accordingly, the main object of the present invention is to provide an improved cooling device of the type described which will be free of the above and other undeseirable characteristics of known devices.

A11 importantobject of the present invention is to provide an improved construction including flow restric tors and injection orifices-in a cooling device of the type which expands a liquid refrigerant into a coil so as to vaporizeit and cool the coil, the novel construction resulting in a quicker, lower temperatured, and better distributed cooling effect. ar An important object of the present invention is to provide an improved and practical cooling device ofnovel- 4 construction so arranged asto efficiently efi'ect the expansion of a liquid fuel to vaporize it and produce cold for retention in or dissipation from an enclosure as desired, and'which may be readily and economically combined with another device or system in which the energy of the refrigerant or vaporized fuel may be utilized.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide an improved cooling device for use in connection with vehicles without modification of the structure or operation of the latter to refrigerate or air condition portions thereof, in which the vehicle motive fuel is utilized initially as the refrigerant andis then consumed by the power plant in a conventional manner.

'A further important object of the present invention is to provide a novel air conditioner and fuel system of improved construction, arrangement and efliciency for a In the drawings I have shown a plurality of embodiments of the invention. In these showings:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic view of one embodiment of the improved cooling device;

FIGURE 2 is a similar fragmentary view to an enlarged scale of another embodiment thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a similar fragmentary view of a further embodiment thereof;

FIGURE 4 is a schematic view of the improved cooling device wherein a vaporizable liquid fuel is employed as the refrigerant, and the refrigerant (and hence fuel) and sub-atmospheric pressure system are combined with filter intake;

7 FIGURE 6 is a central, vertical, sectional view to an enlarged scale, partly in elevation, showing the fuel and air. mixing device and control valve of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 7 is a plan view to an enlarged scale of the manifold adaptor of FIGURE 5; and

FIGURE 8 is a front elevational view of a typical casing or cabinet for the cooling device.

In its broadest aspects, the invention comprises an atmospheric pressure induces refrigerant-flow and discharge into the coil through the end of the tube or through spaced minute, lateral injection orifices, or through both, or alternatively, the tube may be placed externally of the coil'and discharge refrigerant into the. coil at a single point" or at a plurality of spaced points. As is well known, the discharge of the volatile refrigerant into the coil results in expansion and vaporization and this change .of

phase requires heat which is absorbed from the cooling I coil, from fins mounted on the coil, and from'the adjacent area all of which is thereby cooled. The spaced refrigerant discharge points provide a more even and efficient cooling of the coil and this improved cooling eflect'is further increased by the provision of a plurality of spaced restrictions in the refrigerant tube as a whole.

This is conveniently effected by connecting a plurality of successively smaller tube sections which successively increase the velocity of flow of the refrigerant for a given sub-atmospheric pressure. The vaporized refrigerant is --intimately mixed with the incoming gas or air and the vehicle, which may be readily and operably installed therein by mounting theair conditioner in the desired location and connecting the fuel system to the conventional vehicle fuel and vacuum lines without modification thereof, and without adverse elfect on normal engine operation. j

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved cooling device which has a minimum number of parts, is simple and rugged of construction and of long maintenance-free life in use, and which is susceptible of ready and economic manufacture as well as being capable or easy installation in a vehicle for operation by its powerplantf Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent during the course of the following description: i

mixture is discharged into the atmosphere or to a place of utilization. If the refrigerant comprises a fuel and the gas is air, the mixture'is combustible and may be discharged to the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine to operate the same, the manifold pressure being a source of sub-atmospheric pressure, or the mixture may be otherwise utilized. The coil may be placed about or in heat exchange relation with the interior of an enclosure so as to form a refrigerated cabinet, or the coil may be disposed across a fan-equipped cabinet so that air may be directed over the coil to be cooled or conditioned.

Referring to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, numeral 10 designates a casing or housing for a cooling coil 13 which may be mounted in any convenient location. Thecoil 13 has an end 14 adapted to be connected and communicate with any suitable source of sub-atmospheric pressure. The other end 15 of the coil 13 communicates by means of a restricted conduit 16 with a source of gas which may be air which is drawn into the conduit as Patented Feb. 23; 1965 stream ends of the refrigerant tube sections, in effect, form I restrictions each of which serves to respectively increase the velocity of the flow of refrigerantfrom its source to its point or points of discharge within the coil 13 for a given sub-atmospheric pressure. If the cooling coil 13 is formed of inch tubing, the final retricted section will be about ,4 inch tubing and injection tube section 21 should be formed of 3 inch tubing to enable the drilling therein of injection orifices to be described. Experiments have determined that such provision for increased velocity of flow is essential if a material and practical amount of cooling effect in the coil 13 is to be obtained. For best results, the diameter of the restricted gas conduit 1% should be about /3 to A5 of that of the coil 13 to insure the proper amount of gas to refrigerant ratio for vaporization.

Experiments have alsodetermined that a better cooling capacity and a faster and more evenly distributed cooling effect is obtained by the injection tube section 21 Within the coil 13 by providing a plurality of spaced, minute, refrigerant injection holes or orifices 24 along the tube section 21 and this also comprises an important feature of the invention. The refrigerant injection tube 21 is bent to form several loops as shown which are maintained in good heat exchange relationship with and by means of a plurality of spaced, parallel fins 25 fixed thereto which also facilitate the mounting of the coil 13 in the casing 10.

The embodiment of the invention disclosed in FIGURE 2 differs from that of FIGURE 1 only in that the discharge end of the refrigerant injection tube section 21 is closed as at 26 sothat all of the refrigerant is dis charged into the cooling coil 31 by means of the spaced injection holes 24. The holes are preferably evenly spaced and the sum of their areas should not exceed the cross-sectional area of the tube 21.

The embodiment of the invention disclosed in FIGURE 3 differs from that of FIGURE 2 only in that the successively restricted tubing 17 is positioned exteriorly of the cooling coil and in heat exchange relationship therewith. As previously described, the injection tube section 21 is closed as at 26 and provided with spaced, minute, injection holes 24' which communicate with and inject refrigerant into the cooling coil 13'.

The operation of the. cooling device as disclosed in FIGURES 1-3 inclusive is believed to be apparent. The subatmospheric pressure at the end 14 of the cooling coil 13 draws the volatile refrigerant through the restricted tubing at a greater velocity for that pressure than otherwise. the spaced points of the injection holes 24 where it expands, changes into the vapor phase while-absorbing heat from the coil 13, the fins 25, and the adjacent air, and passes out .of the coil end 14 to exhaust or some place of utilization. Thus, an efiicient, uniformly distributed cooling effect of much greater cooling capacity for its size than heretofore known is provided by the cooling device comprising the present invention.

Another important feature of the present invention resides in the ready application of and combination with the cooling device to and with a vehicle without requiring any modification of the engine thereof and without affecting its operation by the turning on or off of the cooling device. As illustrated in FIGURES 4-8 inclusive, any one of the cooling device embodiments of FIGURES 1-3 The refrigerant is discharged into the coil 13 at V inclusive may be utilized with and powered by a vehicle without loss of power to the vehicle by using a liquid fuel such as gasoline, butane, propane, or mixture thereof as the refrigerant and air as the gas.

As is disclosed in use as an air conditioner or air cooler rather than a refrigerator, the cooling device is readily and operably connected to any vehicle having an engine E, and air intake and filter 31, a carburetor 32, an intake manifold 33, a source of volatile fuel 34, and a conduit 35 including a fuel pump 36 for forcing fuel to the carburetor 32. The cooling device casing 10 is pref eraly mounted within the vehicle and is compact enough to be mounted under the dash. The upstream end of the fuel refrigerant tubing section 18 is connected to and communicates with the regular vehicle fuel line 35 and by passes any portion or all of the fuel consumed by the engine to the cooling coil 13 depending upon the demand on the cooling device. Obviously, the greater amount of fuel passing through the tubing 17, the greater is the cooling effect.

The restricted air inlet tubing 16 is provided with an air filter 37 of any desired type and the end 14 of the cooling coil 13 is connected to a fuel-air mixture conduit 38 which delivers the mixture to the manifold 33 of the engine E. In order that the vaporized air fuel mixture resulting from the injection of the liquid fuel through the spaced injection holes 24 into the cooling coil 13 to absorb heat and cool the same may have substantially the required 20 to lair fuel ratio for good combustion, an added air mixing device 39 similar to the air filter 37 and having an air passage 40 controlled by an adjusting screw 43, is mounted by means of a T 44 in the fuel m1xture conduit 38 which also includes shut-off valves 45 and 46. A similar shut-off valve 47 may be provided in the fuel bypass line 18. i

The mixing of the air added by the mixer 39 with the air fuel, mixture passing from the coil 13 to the manifold 33 is done in the T 44 and the amount of air is controlled by the adjusting screw 43. It will be seen that the air-fuel mixture passing from the coil 13 to the manifold 33, after an initial adjustment and calibration, will be substantially of the same ratio as that normally furnished the engine E by its carburetor 32 so that its normal operation is not appreciably affected. The additional mixture will, of course, cause the engine to idle faster but this may be ignored or an appropriate adjustment made by the conventional carburetor idling screw. I p I As seen in FIGURE 8, any suitable casing 10 my house the cooling coil 13, etc. of the invention in its mounting in a vehicle. Such casing 10 includes an air circulating fan 48 at its rear (FIGURES 4 and 5) and air flow direction controlling louvers 49 at its front. The casing 10 is also provided with cooling device controls such as a multi speed fan rheostat type control switch 50 and the cooling unit control valve 45 variable between oif-and-on position by a valve control member .53 which is directly connected to the valve 45. It will be appre ciated that in the closed position, the valve prevents the source of sub-atmospheric pressure such as the vacuiinft of the intake manifold 33, from being applied to the cooling coil 13 so that-it ceases to function.

A variation of the described combination of the improved cooling device with a vehicle is disclosed'in FIG- URE 5 wherein the essential difference from FIGURE 4 lies in the use of a single air mixing device 39 rather than two. This is readily effected by the use of a manifold adaptor 69 inserted in the manifold pipe 33. The adaptor (FIGURE 7) is provided with a pair of terminal connector conduits 62 and 64 which communicate with its interior passage 66 which is aligned with the flow passage from the carburetor 32 and the manifold 33.

The air filter 37 of FIGURE 4 is eliminated and a restricted conduit 67 directly connects the cooling coil end 15 and the air passage 40 of the air filter 39 for the passage of air to the coil from the filter which is connected by the conduit 38 with the terminal connector conduit 62 of the adaptor 60. A conduit 68 v vapor outlet end 14 of the cooling coil 13 with'the adaptor conduit 64 so that upon the occurrence of a sub-atmospheric pressure such as in the manifold 33, air is drawn through the filter 39 to the manifold and also'through the restricted conduit 67 to the cooling coil 13 with the resultant mixed vapor being also drawn to the manifold where it mixes at and in the adaptor with the air from the filter to provide a proper air-fuel ratio for the engine.

It will be noted that the mixed vapor conduit 68 includes an inline rotary valve 69 which, like'the valve 45 of FIGURE 4, is directly operated to regulate the amount of vapor flow by the control knob 53 on the casing 10. It will be appreciated that cooling by the coil 13 is terminated when the valve 69 is closed, and is at a maximum when fully open. When closed, the valve 46 in the air conduit 38 is also closed to prevent the drawing of fuel in a reverse direction through the restricted conduit 67.

It is to be understood that the forms of my invention herewith shown and described are to be taken as preferred examples of the same and that various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departure from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the sub-joined claims.

I claim: l. A cooling device comprising a hollow coil communicating at one end with a source of sub-atmospheric pressure andat its other end with a source of gas to effect the drawing of gas into said coil, a source of volatile refrigcating at one end with a source of sub-atmospheric pressure and at its other end with a source of gas to efliect the drawing of gas into said coil a source of volatile refrigerant, a tube communicating at one end with said refrigerant and at its other end with the interior of said coil to discharge therewithin the sub-atmospheric pressure induced flow of refrigerant to expand and vaporize it and absorb heat from said coil to cool it, said tube including a plurality of spaced restrictions to increase the velocity of the refrigerant flowing therethrough to increase the cooling effect on said coil.

3. A cooling device comprising a hollow coil communicating at one end with a source of sub-atmospheric pressure and at its other end with a source of gas to effect the drawing of gas into said coil, a source of volatile refrigerant, and a tube communicating at one end with said refrigerant and at its other end with the interior of said coil to discharge therewithin the sub-atmospheric pressureinduced flow of refrigerant to expand and vaporize it and absorb heat from said coil to cool it, said tube being of increasingly smaller diameter to .increase the velocity of the refrigerant flowing therethrough to increase the cooling effect on said coil.

'4. The combination recited in claim 3 wherein 'said' other end of said tube is mounted exteriorly of said hollow coil.

5. The combination recited in claim 3 wherein said other end of said tube is mounted interiorly of said hollow coil. 6. A cooling device comprising a hollow coil communicating at one end with a source of sub-atmospheric pressure and at its other end with a source of gas to elfect the drawing of gas into said coil, a source of volatile refrigerant, and a tube communicating at one end with said refrigerant and at spaced points adjacent its other end with the interior of said coil to discharge therewithin the sub-atmospheric pressure-induced flow of refrigerant to connects the mixed expand and vaporize it and absorb .heat from said coilto coolit. I, H 7. A cooling device comprising a hollow coil communicating at one end with a source of sub-atmospheric pressure aIid-at its other end with'a source of gas to effect the, drawing of gas into said coil, a source of vola-' the refrigerant, and a tube communicating at one end with said refrigerant and at spaced points adjacent its other end with the interior of said coil to discharge therewithin the sub-atmospheric pressure-induced flow of refrigerant to expand and vaporize it and absorb heat from said coil to cool it, said tube including a plurality of spaced restrictions to increase the velocity. of the refrigerant flowing therethrough to increase the cooling effect on said coil. i

8. A cooling device comprising'a hollow coil. co m'-,

municating atone end with a source of sub-atmospheric pressure and'at its other end with a source of gas to eifect the drawing of gas into said coil, a source of volatile refrigerant, and a tube communicating at one end with said refrigerant and at spaced points adjacent its otherend with the interior of said coil to discharge therewithin the sub-atmospheric pressure-induced flow of refrigerant to expand and vaporize it and absorb heat from said coil to cool it, said tube being of increasingly smaller diameter to increase the velocity of the refrigerant flowing therethrough-to increase the cooling effect on said coil.

9. The combination recited in claim 8 wherein said other .end of said tube is mounted exteriorly of said hollow coi'l. p

10. The combination recited-in claim 8 wherein said other end of said tube is mounted interiorly of said hollow coil.

11. The combination with a vehicle havingan internal combustion engine, carburetor, intake manifold, and fuel tank including a fuel 'line to the carburetor; of, acooling device mounted on'said vehicle comprising a cooling coil having one end connected to a fuel-air mixture conduit leading to the manifold, a restricted air inlet conduit connected to the other end of said coil to admit air thereinto under the influence of vacuum in the mani fold, and a fuel injection tube having one end connected to the fuel line and its other end communicating at spaced points with the interior of said coil to discharge fuel therein under influence of said vacuum to effect vaporization thereof and cooling of said coil, the resultant mixture of fuel and air passing to said manifold.

12. The combination recited in claim 11 wherein said other end of said tube is mounted exteriorly of said hollow coil. v

13. The combination recited in claim 11 wherein said other end of said tube is mounted interiorly of said hollow coil.

14. The combination with a vehicle having an internal combustion engine, carburetor, intake manifold, and fuel tank including a fuel line to the carburetor; of a cooling device mounted on said vehicle comprising acooling coil having one end connected to a fuel mixture conduit leading to the manifold, a restricted air inlet conduit con:

nected to the other end of said coil to admit air thereinto under the influence of vacuum in the manifold, and a fuel injection tube of decreasing cross-section to increase fuel velocity having one end connected tothe fuel line and its other end' communicating with the interior of said coil to discharge fuel therein under influence of said vacuum to effect vaporization thereof and cooling of said coil, the resultant mixture of fuel and air passing to said manifold.

15. The combination recited in claim 14 wherein said other end of said tube is mounted exteriorly of said hollow coil. 7

16.' The combination recited in claim 14 wherein said other end of said tube is mounted interiorly of said hollow coil.

17. The combination with a vehicle having an internal combustion engine, carburetor, intake manifold, and fuel tank includinga fuel line to the carburetor; of a cooling device mounted on said vehicle comprising a cooling coil having oneend connected to a fuel mixture conduit leading to the manifold, a restricted air inlet conduit connected to the other end of said .coil to admit air thereinto under the influence of vacuum in the manifold,and a fuel injection tube of decreasing cross-section to increase fuel velocity having one end connected to the fuel line and its other .end communicating at spaced points with the interior of said coil to discharge fuel therein under influence of said vacuumto effect vaporization thereof andcooling of said coil, the resultant mixture of fuel and air passing to said manifol 18. The combination recited in claim 17 wherein said other end of said tube isrnounted exte'riorly of said hollow coil.

19. The combination recited in claim 17 wherein said other end of said tube is mounted interiorly of said hollow coil. I

20. The combination with a vehicle having an internal combustion engine, carburetor, intake manifold, and fuel tank including a fuel line to the carburetor; of a cooling device mounted on said vehicle comprising a cooling coil having one end connected to a fuel-air mixture conduit leading to .the manifold, an air filter, a restricted conduit connecting said air filter and the other end of said coil to admit air thereinto under the influence of vacuum in the manifold, a fuel injection tube having one end connected to the fuel line and its other end communicating with the interior of said coil to discharge fuel into the air passing therethrough under influence of the vacuum of the manifold to effect a vaporized mixture thereof requiring absorption of heat and resulting in cooling of said coil, and a second air filter mounted on and communicating with said fuel mixture conduit leading to said manifold to introduce and mix additional air therein with said vaporized mixture for. consumption in the engine.

21. The combinationrecited in claim 20, anda control valve mounted in said fuel air mixture conduit and operable to vary the sub-atmospheric pressure effect of the'manifold and the resultant cooling effect of said coil. 22. The combination with a vehicle having an internal combustion engine, carburetor, intake manifold, and fuel tank including a fuel line to the carburetor; of a cooling device mounted on said vehicle comprising a cooling coil having one end connected .to a fuel-air mixture conduit leading to the manifold, an air filter, a conduit leading from said filter to the manifold, an adaptor for mixing air from said filter with a fuel-air mixture from said coil positionedin said manifold and connected and communiinto under the influence of th manifold vacuum to effect heat absorbing vaporization ofthe fuel and cooling of said coil.

23. The combination recited inclaim 22 and a control valve mounted in said fuel air mixture conduit and operable to vary the sub-atmospheric pressure effect of the manifoldand the resultant cooling effect of said coil.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,438,594 3/48. Zapart 627 2,517,156 8/50 Zapart 627 2,872,790 2/59 Simpson 627 3,027,727

4/62 Farmer 627 ROBERT A. OLEARY, Primary Examiner.

WILLIAM I. WYE, Examiner. 

1. A COOLING DEVICE COMPRISING A HOLLOW COIL COMMUNICATING AT ONE END WITH A SOURCE OF SUB-ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE AND AT ITS OTHER END WITH A SOURCE OF GAS TO EFFECT THE DRAWING OF GAS INTO SAID COIL, A SOURCE OF VOLATILE REFRIGERANT, A TUBE COMMUNICATING AT ONE END WITH SAID REFRIGERANT AND AT ITS OTHER END WITH THE INTERIOR OF SAID COIL TO DISCHARGE THEREWITHIN THE SUB-ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE-INDUCED FLOW OF REFRIGERANT TO EXPAND AND VAPORIZE IT AND ABSORB HEAT FROM SAID COIL TO COOL IT, SAID TUBE BEING FORMED OF SUCCESSIVE SECTIONS OF LESSER DIAMETER TUBING TO INCREASE THE VELOCITY OF THE REFRIGERANT FLOWING THERETHROUGH TO INCREASE THE COOLING EFFECT ON SAID COIL. 